New York Series: Memorabilia Whiff

M aybe everyone in New York City is excited about the World Series, but there's no joy in Mudville for the collectors of sports memorabilia.

The market for high-end sports items, from signed basketballs to antique baseball cards, has hit a slump that has its huge collector base worried. This summer, for example, a rare Napoleon Lajoie baseball card that sold for $28,750 only a year ago failed to attract a single bidder at a new...